A Classic Bridal Makeup Tutorial

This video was sponsored by Clinique

Makeup for your wedding day needs to do a couple of things. Firstly, it better last all day because you probably won't have the time or inclination to fix your lipstick for every photo, and there will be lots of photos... Secondly, you want to look beautiful in person, duh, but you also want to look beautiful in the gazillions of photographs that will forever adorn the mantelpiece of your parents living room - and these can often be conflicting briefs. Makeup can look washed out in photos so you’ll need a heavier application than you might ordinarily wear. But, you don’t want to look caked either - it’s a difficult balancing act!

Having gone through the whole wedding experience myself and racking up quite a few during my time as a freelance MUA, these are the lessons I’ve learned.

Start taking care of your skin in advance of the big day, the earlier the better. Makeup can only do so much and the better your skin looks, the better the makeup will look. Get into a good routine and if you have the means, see a facialist (but stop the facials two weeks out from the wedding, last thing you want is a skin purging breakout!)

Test the products you’ll be wearing on the day. Wear-test them to see how they hold up and photograph them with and without a flash.

Avoid SPF if you can. Sunscreen on your face can reflect a camera flash and make your face look white and washed out.

Enlist a member of your wedding party to be on makeup duty for the day. They should carry some blotting paper (if you have oily skin), a powder compact and your lip products. It will be up to them to ensure your face is looking spiffy before every photo.

Waterproof mascara, waterproof eyeliner and the best eyeshadow primer you can afford. If you’re anything like me, you will blub you’re way through the ceremony and be very thankful for that bullet proof eye makeup.

Stick to neutral tones but don’t be afraid to show some personality. If you always rock a giant cat flick eye then don’t be afraid to wear it on your wedding day. Photo’s don’t have to be utterly timeless; have you seen Priscilla Presley’s wedding look? #goals

Don’t stress too much about it. Honestly I couldn’t give a shit about my makeup on my wedding day. I enjoyed the quiet time I had that morning while I was applying it, but once it was on I forgot about it and focused my attention on slightly more important things like marrying the love of my life.

The tutorial below is more of a classic ‘my face but better’ kinda look, and is not just limited to brides! I hope you enjoy and pick up a trick or two that will help you on your big day.